148 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



evidently S3monym3 of some already mentioned, are also given as lo- 

 cally new-found seeds. 



The Dickson has by far the most general and positive preference, 

 though some express their want of faith in its superiority. It is usually 

 reported a very prolific cotton, -with a strong fiber of good medium 

 length, tts originator is one of the very foremost planters of the South 

 for uniformly large yield ; and the habit established by generous fertil- 

 ization and thorough culture continues its potent influence in all sec- 

 tions and soils, just as thoroughbreds among animals exhibit remarka- 

 ble constancy of type in their ofLspring. The Peeler is a cotton of great 

 length and fineness of staple, but prolificacy is not so confidently as- 

 serted of it. The Cheatham is very highly commended by some, while 

 others sneeringly assert that its name is indicative of its quality. As 

 in most products of the farm or orchard elsewhere, productiveness, quan- 

 tity, outweighs quality in preference for varieties of cotton, 



INCREASE OF AREA IN SUPrLY PRODUCTS. 



From the mass of correspondence asserting a tendency to greater 

 variety of crops, especially such as are needed for subsistence, the fol- 

 lowing illustrative notes are appended : 



NoRxn Carolixa. — Nash: lucrease the past yeiir. Farmcra commeuce 1877 with 

 more corn, oats, fodder, pork, &c., tban for eight years. Profits aro increased in pro- 

 portion as they raise their supplies; fewer "crop liens" than in 1876. Pasquotank: 

 Increase in all lield-crops, and a large increase in beef and pork, very mnch to profit of 

 producer. Duplin : Increase in all, especially in sniall grains, iiarticularly winter oats. 

 Pork crop 25 i)cr cent, larger than since 1865. No farmer prospers who does not i)ro- 

 duce his supplies. Most have plenty of meat, nit : Growing tendency to raise home 

 supplies. Wheat growing in favor. But for cholera for two years ample supply of 

 porli would have been cured. Cuviherland ; Decided increase in all, to great satisfac- 

 tion of producers. Chowan : Mnch increase in corn, fodder, pease, and oats. Cataivha : 

 Increase in all, and a decrease in price from money stringency and not from overpro- 

 duction. Camden : All farmers raise their Bupplies and a surxdus of corn, pork, and 

 potatoes. Beaufort : Great increase in all. Six years ago thousands of bales of hay 

 were imported from the North, now none. Pork imports decreased 50 per cent. Seed- 

 oats, all imported formerly ; now many have them for sale. Abnndauce of beef at 5 

 cents per pound dressed. The increase of home supplies has saved us from ruin. 

 Rutherford : Abundance of all. ' The difiicultj' is to find market for surplus, having no 

 railroads. Warren: Considerable increase in grain and forage, some in beef ; would be 

 in pork but for cholera. Credit and mortgage system generally abandoned, and the 

 rigid economy necessitated by a cash basis working good to planters. IVihon: Yes, 

 with a decrease of expenses and increase of profit. Yancey : At a stand-still. 



South Cauolina. — Marion: Yes; Homo demand not yet supplied, but those pros- 

 per most who produce supplies for sale. Marlborough: Wonderful change ; with low 

 prices of cotton, will soon make enough to feed all our people ; corn^ oats, wheat, pease, 

 &c., i)lenty, and sheep, hogs, &c., increasing. Spartanburgh : No increase. Flour and 

 bacon coming in by the car-load from other States. Union : Yes, beyond question. 

 Less cotton ; homo supplies varied, with continual improvement in condition of far- 

 mers. Barnwell : Real but not great increase since 1870. Clear profit, as it is not at 

 the expense of the cotton-crop. Colleton : Increase considerable in corn, oats, pease, 

 and fodder; not much in pork and beef. Edgefield: Marked increase in cerals, espe- 

 cially oats, which has reduced exx)enso of raising cotton fully 25 jier cent. Fairfield : 

 Considerable in corn and oats and some in other grai'^a, witlrprofit to those who raise 

 enough for home use. Pork will not grow without a fence law, not to mention thieves. 

 Horry : Twenty-five per cent, increase in product of corn in past ten years, and, 50 per 

 cent, in cotton by improved culture. Georgetown ; Not 10 per cent, of provisionslrai8e<l 

 in county. Live stock decimated by disease and outlawry; labor stagnant, and ^.,000 

 .-icrea rice-land idle which was planted last year. Greenville; Little increase as yet, 

 but a general determination that there shall bo. All 'agree that it wiU increase the 

 jiiotits of the farm. 



Gi:ouGiA. — Baker: General increase of provision-crops. No dividends where such 

 increase haa not been made. Bartow : Two hundred to three hundred per cent, increase. 

 Less money made, but less needed, and greater independence. Hard blow on mer- 

 cliauts. Bxbh ; Fully 25 per cent, increase and circumstances much easier, requiring 



